Cake in a baking dish: the quick, indulgent dessert with chocolate custard.
This is the perfect dessert to make when you want a spectacular result with minimal effort. Forget the stress of assembly: we will use a baking dish to create a layered, creamy and irresistible dessert.
The absolute star is a delicious chocolate pastry cream, ideal to enrich a base of cookies or sponge cake and to create an impeccable spoon dessert.
Come with me, let’s start baking. Enjoy the recipe, Giusi.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 9 people
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for the baking-dish cake
- 4 1/4 cups milk
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 6 1/4 tbsp cornstarch
- 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 packet vanillin (vanilla powder)
- sponge cake (2 pieces of 12 x 10 in)
- 16 ladyfingers (savoiardi)
- as needed cookies
Steps for the baking-dish cake
Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, without letting it boil.
In a bowl, whisk together the sugar and the eggs. Add cornstarch and vanilla and mix.
Temper the egg mixture by pouring a little hot milk in a thin stream while whisking quickly.
Pour everything back into the milk saucepan. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens.
Remove from the heat and add the sifted unsweetened cocoa powder. Stir vigorously until you have a smooth, homogeneous mixture.Spread an even layer of the still-warm cream on the bottom of a baking dish about 12 x 8 in.
Cover the cream with your chosen ingredient – sponge cake, cookies or ladyfingers. Don’t be afraid to lightly moisten them with a little milk if necessary.
Continue alternating layers of cream and sponge cake/cookies/ladyfingers until all ingredients are used. (For example, with a sponge cake you can make 2 layers).
Once you have completed the final layer of cream, crumble a bit of the ingredient used for the layers (sponge cake, cookies, etc.) over the surface for a simple, rustic decoration.Let the dessert cool to room temperature. Once cold, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or better yet, overnight, to allow the flavors to meld perfectly.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and that the dessert is a success. If you have questions or want to share your experience, leave me a comment below.
See you soon and happy baking.
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Storage and tips.
Store the dessert covered in the refrigerator. It is perfect if prepared the day before, as resting makes it even better. It will stay fresh for 3–4 days.
Tasting tip: Remove it from the fridge 15–20 minutes before serving: the cream will be softer and the flavors will be enhanced.
